Tour 6 Day Northern Best Bits | Visit New Zealand

Guide

English commentary on tourist coaches and local guides on activities.

Accommodation

3 nights at a 3-star hotel in Auckland City. 1 night at a 3-star hotel in Paihia 1 night at a 3-star hotel in Rotorua. This accommodation can be upgraded - contact us for more information.

Meals

Daily Breakfast

Transport

Airport Arrival Transfers Coach, Intercity Bus, Shuttle throughout tour. Departure transfer.

Others

Discover the Bay Hole in the Rock cruise Waitangi Treaty Grounds Hobbiton Movie Set Waitomo and Ruakuri Glow Worm Caves Arrival and departure airport transfers

Not included:

Insurance

Travel insurance is not included.

Optional

Optional experiences are available on this tour for an additional cost and will be provided to you with your finalised travel documents.

Others

Tipping. Other meals, snacks and drinks. Pre and post tour accommodation. Single supplement (Mandatory).

Flights

International and domestic flights not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Arrive Into Auckland Today And Transfer To Your Accommodation
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Arrive Into Auckland Today And Transfer To Your Accommodation

Personal meet and greet, and private transfer to your accommodation

On arrival you will be met by one of our team and driven to your Auckland accommodation.
Day 2 Day 2: Auckland To Paihia Including Waitangi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Auckland To Paihia Including Waitangi

Auckland to Paihia with Intercity Bus

You will be picked up by taxi and taken to the Intercity coach terminal. Here, you will board a coach and embark on your journey north to the Bay of Islands. The bus will drop you in the heart of Paihia, and just a 2 minute walk to your accommodation. After arriving in Paihia, You can either take the coastal walk or catch a cab which will take around 5 minutes to reach Waitangi. Here you’ll join a guided tour of the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Explore the original Treaty House, one of New Zealand’s oldest and most visited historic homes and the Te Whare Runanga, a fully carved Māori meeting house, which is representative of all iwi in New Zealand. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds offer a truly unique insight into New Zealand’s early history. After returning to Paihia, take a 2 minute stroll to the ferry terminal, and enjoy a short ferry ride across the harbour to Russell at your own expense. From here you will enjoy the Russell Mini Tour by coach. Known until the early 1840s as Kororāreka, Russell was the first town and sea port in New Zealand. The Bay of Islands offered a safe anchorage and by the 1830s Russell had become a lawless trading centre where whalers, seafarers and merchants mixed with adventurers, deserters and escaped convicts from Australia. Today the town once called the “Hell Hole of the Pacific” is a charming and tranquil spot. This intimate one-hour coach tour visits many of Russell’s iconic locations that make it so significant in New Zealand’s early history. Your tour will be led by an engaging guide whose combination of historical knowledge and local insight will bring the culture and history of the area to life.
Day 3 Day 3: Discover The Bay Hole In The Rock Cruise - Return To Auckland This Afternoon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Discover The Bay Hole In The Rock Cruise - Return To Auckland This Afternoon

Hole in the Rock Cruise

Board your cruise and take in the stunning views as you glide out through the islands and along the Rakaumangamanga Peninsula to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over and Piercy Island/Motukōkako, or as it is popularly known the ‘Hole in the Rock’. According to Māori legend, local warriors used to paddle through the Hole in the Rock in their canoes before departing for battle. Drops of water from the cave roof above were a good omen. If conditions permit, your skipper will expertly guide the ship through the narrow space. Keep an eye out for common and bottlenose dolphins, whales and other marine life during your cruise, and have your camera ready as you get up close to the action. The purpose-built catamaran is licensed by DOC (the Department of Conservation) for dolphin viewing and the crew have years of experience locating dolphins in these waters. Dolphin Seeker has indoor and outdoor seating available, and the largest outdoor viewing decks in the Bay of Islands.

Paihia to Auckland with Intercity Bus

Leaving the magical Bay of Islands behind you head south on State Highway 1 back towards Auckland, the city of sails, the route takes you through Kawakawa, affectionately known as ’train town’. The farming regions of Wellsford and Warkworth accompany you the rest of the journey before passing through the suburbs of the North Shore and crossing the harbour bridge and into the heart of Auckland City. A private transfer will be waiting at the coach terminal in Auckland, to take you to your accommodation.
Day 4 Day 4: Auckland To Rotorua Via Hobbiton Movie Set
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Auckland To Rotorua Via Hobbiton Movie Set

Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton

This trip from Auckland to Rotorua includes the Hobbiton movie set tour.

Departing from Auckland city, this is a wonderful way to get to Rotorua and includes a magical journey through Middle-earth to the Hobbiton movie set from “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” films.

Travel south from Auckland over the Bombay Hills to the rich farmland of the Waikato region. Your journey takes you through undulating green hills reminding you that you are approaching the Shire. Your Bush and Beach guide will give you commentary on the way down with insights about the areas you are traveling through and insights into the backgrounds to the movies.

On arrival at Shire’s Rest you embark on your Hobbiton movie set tour. This location is the largest “green set” in the world and the only part of the set remaining in New Zealand. You see 44 hobbit holes, the Mill and double arch bridge, and the party tree. At this stunning location you can take a photo at the gate to Bilbo’s house, “Bag End”, looking out over the whole set to the hills in the distance. The tour ends with a visit to the Green Dragon Inn where you can enjoy a complimentary ale, cider, or ginger beer.

Finally you will head to your destination for the evening in Rotorua.
Day 5 Day 5: Enjoy Waitomos Glow Worm Caves On The Way Back To Auckland
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Enjoy Waitomos Glow Worm Caves On The Way Back To Auckland

After being collected from your Rotorua accommodation, you will join the journey through the Waikato to Waitomo, known for its caves and glow worms. On arrival, you will join a guided tour of the caves, conducted by a local guide – the highlight of which is the boat ride along the Waitomo River where you have the opportunity to see the myriad of glow worm lights that make up the Glowworm Grotto.

Ruakuri Cave offers a captivating blend of Waitomo’s most compelling subterranean experiences. Journey down through the spectacular spiral entrance, and marvel at the softly folding shawl-like limestone formations and crystal tapestries, hear the distant thunder of the subterranean waterfalls and get up close to the glowworms.

Ruakuri Cave is New Zealand’s longest guided underground walking tour and an experience that must be seen to be believed. It will leave you open-mouthed, awe-struck, and humbled by the sheer majesty of nature. Following this, you will be dropped to your accommodation back in Auckland.
Day 6 Day 6: Depart Auckland Today - Transfer To The Airport
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Depart Auckland Today - Transfer To The Airport

Transfer to Auckland airport

You will be collected from your Auckland hotel and transferred to the airport to meet your departing flight.

6 days tour

6 Day Northern Best Bits

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip 6 Day Northern Best Bits

Day 1: Arrive Into Auckland Today And Transfer To Your Accommodation

Day 2: Auckland To Paihia Including Waitangi

Day 3: Discover The Bay Hole In The Rock Cruise - Return To Auckland This Afternoon

Day 4: Auckland To Rotorua Via Hobbiton Movie Set

Day 5: Enjoy Waitomos Glow Worm Caves On The Way Back To Auckland

Day 6: Depart Auckland Today - Transfer To The Airport

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